As Windows 10 approaches its end of life in late 2025, Microsoft intends to provide its commercial Windows 10 customers with extended security updates. The corporation is making that offer available to individual users for the first time.
With the news that Windows 10 22H2 will be the final version in April of last year, Microsoft urged users of Windows 10 to start making arrangements to upgrade to the most recent version of the operating system, Windows 11.
According to StatCounter data, Windows 10 continues to be the most popular operating system version, with 64% of the US desktop market share, compared to 30% for Windows 11.
The funding will end on October 14, 2025. Microsoft will thereafter stop offering technical support, security updates, bug patches, and time zone adjustments. This implies that consumers would either need to switch to the cloud-based Windows 365 or update their current devices to Windows 11.
Microsoft will provide Extended Security Updates (ESUs) to users who choose not to upgrade, the firm said in a blog post on Tuesday. These are annual purchases that may be extended for a maximum of three years. This is not always an option given by Microsoft; for example, extended support was available for Windows 7 but not Windows 8.
According to Microsoft, the ESU program offers “critical and/or important security updates” every month. However, beyond the deadline of October 2025, no requests for design changes, new features, or technical support services are given.
Pricing for ESUs will be available “at a later date,” a Microsoft representative said.
Customers with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise plans, according to Microsoft, “will continue to receive updates based on their specific lifecycles.”
